Forty-two questions were taken on notice during the hearings; 94 questions were placed on notice after the hearing. Answers are available on the committee's web page. The committee has made six recommendations. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank the members of the government and their directorate staff who appeared and for their contribution to this inquiry, and their timely return of answers to questions on notice.

I would also like to thank the committee secretary, the other members of the committee and those other MLAs who appeared to ask questions. I commend the report to the Assembly.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Economic Development and Tourism—Standing Committee

Report 3

MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (11.55): I present the following report:

Economic Development and Tourism—Standing Committee—Report 3—Inquiry into a new Convention Centre for Canberra, dated 7 March 2018, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.

I move:

That the report be noted.

On 21 February 2017, the committee, noting that the proposal to construct a new convention centre for Canberra had attracted tripartisan support in the Assembly, resolved to inquire into and report on the proposal to construct a new convention centre in Canberra. The committee received 10 submissions, held five public hearings and heard from 11 witnesses from a range of stakeholders.

The National Convention Centre provides a valuable service to Canberra but it does have significant limitations, particularly around the ability to hold more than one event simultaneously and to host banquets. Efforts to promote construction of a new convention centre date back to the Carnell government. The key proposal under discussion in recent years has been the Australia forum.

The committee undertook this inquiry in the hope that it would assist all parties in moving the process forward. The committee has made 10 recommendations. Our first recommendation is that stakeholders in a new convention centre in Canberra acknowledge that the Australia forum concept is unlikely to be constructed in its proposed form. While there is much to admire about the Australia forum proposal, the committee sets out in its report some of the reasons why the inspirations for the Australia forum are unlikely to be achieved.

The committee recommends some steps to advance the process towards a new convention centre, including reserving the City Hill site, continued engagement with the federal government and producing a revised functional requirement in the design